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Haynes Vineyard
Haynes Vineyard Forgeron Chardonnay
Napa
- 100% Chardonnay
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Vintage Wine Name Haynes Vineyard Forgeron Chardonnay 2020 Vintage 2020 Wine Description Focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Haynes wines are vineyard designated single-vineyard bottlings made from historic vines planted in 1968 in the heart of the Coombsville AVA. Old Vine Chardonnay produced from the Haynes Vineyard, planted in 1968. The vineyard site produces mineral driven wines from the coolest microclimate in the Napa Valley. Reminiscent of Burgundian style Chardonnay, the Haynes Forgeron Chardonnay is made to age for many years to come. Region Napa Appellation Coombsville Varietal Composition 100% Chardonnay Vineyard Details SOIL: A mixture of volcanic ash, alluvial, and diatomaceous earth, a prime characteristic of Coombsville CLONE: Wente clone planted on St. George rootstock VINE AGE: 55 years Tasting notes Old Vine Chardonnay produced from the Haynes Vineyard, planted in 1968. The vineyard site produces mineral driven wines from the coolest microclimate in the Napa Valley. Reminiscent of Burgundian style Chardonnay, the Haynes Forgeron Chardonnay is made to age for many years to come. Pairing notes Charceuterie Alcohol % 12.90 Aging Aged 22 months in large oak casks. SRP 150 Highest Score 97 POINTS - James Suckling Highest Score Review Copy Aromas of dried apple, dried earth, and hints of peach and apple follow through to a medium body with firm but fine-grained texture. Drink or hold. - James Suckling, March 2023 Acclaim 97 POINTS - JamesSuckling.com Feature Bullet 1 Historic Coombsville AVA vineyard planted in 1967 by the Haynes family and now boasts the oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in Napa Valley. Feature Bullet 2 Cooler temperatures, winds, marine fog and diatomaceous soils produce wines of generous structure, fresh acidity, and minerality. Feature Bullet 3 Our goal is to vinify the grapes into America’s greatest examples of the Burgundian varietals. Feature Bullet 4 Certified CCOF organic, with biodynamic practices. Feature Bullet 5 Tiny production, only a few thousand cases per year. Vintages 2020-2024 were made by Nico Cueva, a gifted alum of Kosta Browne. From 2025 the wines will be made by Matt Taylor, an alum of Domaine Dujac. Winery Haynes Vineyard Winery Description For the first time in the long history of Haynes Vineyard, a single-vineyard, single-estate winery has been established on this legendary site. The vineyard is renowned as the crown jewel of Coombsville, possessing a combination of climate conditions and history that make its terroir entirely unique: a patchwork of soils, including diatomaceous earth and volcanic rock, an early planting of the famous Wente clone of Chardonnay, and a position as the coolest site in Coombsville. The Lawrence family is only the third family to own the vineyard, purchasing it from the Whitford/Haynes family, who bought it from Napa City founder Nathan Coombs in the late 19th century. In 1967, the Haynes family granted André Tchelistcheff permission to plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, now the oldest in Napa Valley. The three expressions of Chardonnay from the site reflect its terroir, its story, and the people who define its character: What we grow – Vigneron, What we make – Forgeron, and What we love – Corazon. Winery Instagram Handle @haynesvineyardnapa Winery Hashtags #coombsville #haynesvineyard #napavalley #luxury Winemaker Matt Taylor Winemaker Bio Matt Taylor was born and raised in Sonoma County. Growing up, his parents did not drink, and he was first introduced to the world of wine by his best friend’s dad, Chris Bilbro, who owned Marietta Cellars in Geyserville. His earliest memories of wine would be mushroom hunting or pig hunting, followed by preparing a meal accompanied by a good bottle of wine. While in college, Matt played football at the University of Washington, winning a Pac-10 championship. However, after suffering two herniated disks in his back, Matt decided to give up the game and pursue winemaking. Matt lived in Cádiz, Spain for nearly two years, where he was able to study and work in a Bodega in Jerez. Upon returning to the US, he was hired as assistant winemaker at Joseph Swan in the Russian River Valley, where he worked the 2000 and 2001 vintages. In 2001, he enrolled in Fresno State University where he earned his post-Baccalaureate degree in Viticulture & Enology. He focused on whole cluster while at Fresno State, which led him to meet Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac. This meeting led to an internship at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses for the 2004 vintage. Upon finishing his Viticulture & Enology degree, he joined Araujo Estate Wines to manage the vineyards and act as assistant winemaker to Francoise Peschon. The Araujos also allowed him to work harvests in Argentina and New Zealand. He would go on to become Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Araujo Estate Wines. After the 2010 vintage, Matt departed Araujo for two new endeavors: Reuling Vineyard, a Sonoma Coast project focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Front Porch Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm where Matt converted the vineyards to grafted Rhone varieties. From 2014 to 2018, Matt joined Napa Valley winery Chamboulé, where his tenure was crucial to his development, in terms of research, making wines naturally, and his stylistic approach to winemaking. Matt would go on to form his own project, Matt Taylor Wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast and a soon-to-be added Loire-based component. He has also made wines for 32 Winds Wines in Healdsburg, a boutique winery specializing in Sonoma County grapes. In March 2020, Matt joined Lawrence Wine Estates as winemaker for Ink Grade, a new label launching in September 2021. The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley, boasting scenic views of forested pines and sequoia and rendering pure, intense fruit.